Remember when Steve Smith left for the Eagles, look how that turned out. I trust the fact that we didn't really talk to KP and that we signed Mundy before KP signed elsewhere that the FO knows something about him that we don't. He has been injured plenty and maybe is worse than we think. I'm pissed to see him go to the Eagles, but it is only a 1 year deal and he may not even play much for them.

Yeah why are people questioning Phillips for not getting TO's? That was not his job at all.

Maybe, but personally I think it is a hard case to argue when Brown got TOs while filling in for Phillips.

In fact Fewell's defensive schemes are pretty much built around getting turnovers.

Phillips got 8 interceptions in 5 seasons, half of which came in 2011.

Stevie Brown got that in one season, double what Phillips did in 2011. Ironically in 2011 Phillips had 11 PD which was the same as what Brown had in 2012.

Also Brown forced 2 fumbles last year, twice as many as Phillips has in his five seasons.

Both Phillips and Brown have had one year that is clearly their best. both played under Fewell and both defended 11 passes. Brown turned 8 of these into interceptions while Phillips only had 4 with the same number of opportunities.

A safety's job is to do both. Stop the deep ball and make game changing plays in the form of turnovers. And in today's bush league NFL, where hitting a player hard results in a penalty, that hard hitting safety is about to be extinct. So how does a safety make his mark. Two ways, one is pass defending balls that he can get to help out AND momentum changing plays, ie turnovers.

KP was a good safety, but no way played up to his potential. Health and scheme hurt him. He was a glorified outfielder who had to do 2 things. Stop the deep, home run ball, AND create turnovers, especially in Fewell's scheme.

Or Will Hill. The staff loves him and don't forget he is only 23 years old! This is good because longer shelf life, and more times to develop for us. I think he and Brown would compete. I actually think Hill has the shot of bypassing Brown. Rolle and Hill could be a real possibility. I like that Hill is still young and can be dropped in there.

He just turned 23 March 7, so this can be a good find by the Pro personnel dept. and good development opportunity for us.

First has to be his health, it seems to me the front office are very concerned about it going forward.

The second factor is that Stevie Brown emerged as a genuine ballhawks. Sure he needs to improve areas if his game but there is a lot of upside. Then we have Hill, Sash, Mundy and Thomas if he can come back so the depth is quite good.

It is very notable that we haven't chased any of the big name safeties, there has been a lot around. I think the front office wants to invest in other areas.

I actually thought Phillips was over rated and never fully became the dominant safety we thought he would be as a first round pick.

I did as well, but I learned that's the minority people regarding him. That's fine and all but I think Will Hill, who just turned 23 years old a week ago, will be the starter. The staff is high on him. He had talent but he was very immature. Tweeting about weed and sex life. So I think that's the guy who steps in, not brown. I think Hill will play and will learn and develop.

I hope Will Hill can turn into something. Hopefully he works out. But our defense suffers a big blow without Kenny. Rolle will get cut after this season and we need a guy who can defend in the post. So S becomes a round 1 possibility.

Also Rolle sucks at playing the post. Expect us to give up a lot of deep passes if the rush isn't clicking this season.

Brown does not "suck." Now we know he's not nearly as good as last year but you don't just get 8 or 9 INT's by sucking. Yes some of them were right place right time but he still showed a knack for being where the ball was. I don't expect a repeat and I don't think he comes close to that total again but suck is too harsh.